Fletcher plays it cool

DARREN FLETCHER laughed off talk he is a soccer inspiration on the eve of his
international comeback for Scotland tonight.

Team-mates feared the Manchester United midfielder’s career was over when he
took an indefinite break this year after failing to overcome a debilitating
bowel condition.

But Fletcher, 28, refused to give up hope and wins his 59th cap tonight away
to Wales in a match his country must win to keep alive their World Cup dream.

He said: “I want to play everything down about coming back and being an
inspiration to people. For the time being I’m back and that’s all I can ask
for. I still have to fight it every day and that’s not going to change.

“But I’m capable of playing in both games against Wales and in Belgium on
Tuesday. It won’t be a problem for me as long as I don’t pick up an injury.

“Just to be sitting here in the team hotel the night before the game, it
almost feels like I’m starting out all over again.

“I’ve got a lot more experience and there are things I know how to handle now
but, in terms of my excitement levels, it feels like I’m about to win my
first cap all over again.”

But Fletcher can never give up his battle against the condition. He admitted:
“It never goes away and that’s the thing I have to live with now.

“I have to watch my diet and take certain medication or it could come back
again. It’s a battle every day. I’m never going to be 100 per cent and
that’s something I must live with for the rest of my life.”